Searching for a substitute of wheat bran and wheat standard middlings in chick mashes, three experiments were carried out using ground sorghums. In the first one, 30% of Atlas, Kafir e White Afrikan x Sumac (seed chops) were substituted for 30% of wheat by-products. All the rations with sorghum grain gave inferior results. In another experiment, 7, 14, 20 and 30% of sorghum substituted equal percentages of those wheat by-products, the best results having been obtained with 7% of Atlas and 23% of wheat by-products. Finally, in a third experiment, 5% of dried cow manure plus 10, 20 and 30% of ground Atlas sorghum were substituted for 5% of alfalfa hay meal plus, respectively, 10, 20 and 30% of wheat by-products. All results obtained from rations containing sorghum were as good as or better than that given by the ration including alfalfa hay meal and only wheat by-products. Under the conditions of this experiment, 5% of cow manure plus 12,25% of sorghum and 17,75% of wheat by-products is supposed to be the best combination to be recommended, this result having been attained through the study of the regression equation.

Silage from a sweet forage sorghum with a low grain-to-stalk ratio–variety Rex–was compared to silage from a dual purpose forage sorghum with a higher grain-to-stalk ratio–variety Hegari– and both were compared to alfalfa hay and alfalfa silage in feeding trials with beef steers. Two experiments were conducted; one with a limited concentrate ration, and the second, with a full feed of concentrate.

The effect of lime level on the growth of grain sorghum roots into subsoils of the Norfolk catena was studied in a greenhouse experiment. The effects of lime and KCl on root growth of sweet corn and on soil solution concentrations of Al were investigated in a second greenhouse experiment. The latter was pursued further by growing grain sorghum plants in suspensions of White Store clay to which had been added various quantities of Ca(OH)₂ and CaCl₂. The growth of roots into unlimed subsoils from the Norfolk catena was related inversely to the amounts of exchangeable Al. The percentage Al-saturation of the catena members increased with decreasing natural drainage. Root growth into the subsoils increased substantially when lime sufficient to cause hydrolysis of the exchangeable Al was added. The addition of KCl to unlimed Creedmoor, Portsmouth, and Appling soils increased the concentration of Al in soil solution to the point that growth of sweet corn roots was drastically reduced. When lime was added, corn roots grew well even at the highest level of KCl. The development of roots by grain sorghum plants grown in suspensions of acid White Store clay (30 me. exchangeable Al per 100 g.) was restricted severely unless 80% of the acidity was neutralized. This was particularly true for the highest rate of CaCl₂.

SynopsisProgressively increasing concentrations of glucose, sucrose, and D-mannitol solutions decreased the germination percentage and radicle elongation of radish and sorghum seed. Solutions of NaCl and PVP apparently were toxic to seed germination. The use of antibiotics had no effect on germination and radicle elongation.

Damage to grain sorghum by the corn earworm–Heliothis zea (Boddie) –has been especially severe in Butte and Glenn counties. Certain fields examined in 1957 and 1958 showed 90%-99% of the heads to be infested. Usually 1–4 larvae per head were found although some heads had 10-16 larvae.

SynopsisMale sterility in grain sorghum was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gent interacting with sterile cytoplasm. Male sterility, as determined by lack of seed set on bagged heads, was analyzed with 27 stocks in testcrosses, selfed testcrosses, and F₂ populations. The designation ms~ is suggested for this gene.